How many more dwarf planets can be named after deities?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Utwig
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Planet
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the potential for naming dwarf planets after deities, sparked by the recent naming of a dwarf planet discovered in 2005. Participants speculate that there could be hundreds or even thousands of undiscovered dwarf planets. The main concern is the limited number of deities available for naming, suggesting that the International Astronomical Union (IAU) may need to explore new sources for names. There is a humorous suggestion that the IAU might fund theologians to identify more deities. The conversation highlights the intersection of astronomy and mythology in naming conventions for celestial bodies.
Astronomy news on Phys.org
russ_watters said:
Hundreds, perhaps thousands.
Presumably the limiting factor is the number of deities to name them after - the IAU is going to have to start funding reaseach theologians to discover more Small Gods.
 
mgb_phys said:
Presumably the limiting factor is the number of deities to name them after - the IAU is going to have to start funding reaseach theologians to discover more Small Gods.

:smile:

So you're saying that they will cease at their attempts to discover more of these dwarf planets once all the god-like names have been taken?
 

Thread 'How feasible is home radio astronomy?'

Is a homemade radio telescope realistic? There seems to be a confluence of multiple technologies that makes the situation better than when I was a wee lad: software-defined radio (SDR), the easy availability of satellite dishes, surveillance drives, and fast CPUs. Let's take a step back - it is trivial to see the sun in radio. An old analog TV, a set of "rabbit ears" antenna, and you're good to go. Point the antenna at the sun (i.e. the ears are perpendicular to it) and there is...
View full post »

Thread 'Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos'

This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
View full post »

Similar threads

I How Big of an Object Orbiting Closer to the Sun Than Earth Could Be Overlooked?
Replies
17
Views
4K
I New Developments In The Search For Planet X
Replies
2
Views
3K
B MARVELS Discovery: 1 Giant Planet & 'Failed Star' Found
Replies
3
Views
2K
B Outer Solar System Origins Survey, Dwarf Planets and TNOs
Replies
2
Views
2K
I How Can We Measure Properties of Distant Planets and Stars?
Replies
12
Views
3K
How Would a Red Dwarf Companion Affect Our Sunset Views?
Replies
41
Views
7K
I What is the New White Dwarf Mass Limit?
Replies
9
Views
2K
Sapient Life Indigenous to a Planet Orbiting a Red Dwarf
Replies
13
Views
3K
The Planet That Should Not Exist
Replies
9
Views
5K
B Nobel Prize for first exoplanet discovery
Replies
6
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top